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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 

MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


ON    THE 

VIRTUES  AND  EFFICACY 

OF  c 

A  CRUST  OF  BREAD, 

EAT  EARLY  IN  A  MORNING  FASTING; 

TO    WHICH    ARE    ADDED, 

SOME  PJRTICULJR  REMARKS 

CONCERNING 

CURES  ACCOMPLISHED  BY  THE  SALIVA, 

Or  FASTING  SPITTLE, 

As  well  when  externally  applied,  as  when  internally  given, 

IN  THE  SCURVY,  GRAVEL,  STONE  RHEUMATISM, 
And  divers  other  Diseases  arising  from  Obstructions, 

PVith  some  Critical  Observations 

CONCERNING 

THE  RECREMENTS  OF  THE  BLOOD; 

DEMONSTRATING, 

That  when  regularly  secreted,  they  both  contribute  to  preserve  the 
Life  of  Animals,  and  keep  them  in  Health. 

BY   A    PHYSICIAN. 


N*qu«  enim  ulla  alia  Re,  Homines propius  ad  Deos  accedunt,  quam  Salutem 
Hoviinibus  dando.  CiCERo' 


THE  SEVENTH  EDITION. 

lonDott: 

PRINTED  FOR  BURGESS  if   HILL,  MEDICAL  i^   GENERAL   BOOKSELLERS, 

55,  GREAT  WINDMILL  STREET, 

THREE  DOORS  FROM  THE  TOP  OF  THE  HAYMARKET. 

1821, 


?  V 


^    .  -^J'.fJ^' 


^^ 


Printed  by  G.  Hatden,  Little  College  Street,  Westminster. 


,'St:^f 


>h 


THE 


INTRODUCTORY  DISCOURSE, 

DISCOVERING  THE  GREAT  EFFICACY  OF  THE  RECRE- 
MENTS  OF    THE    BODY,    TO  THE    DIGESTION  OF  OUR 
FOOD,  THE  CIRCULATION  OF  THE   BLOOD,  AND   THE 
SECRETION  OF  THE  ALIMENTARY  FLUIDS. 

\_  Am  sensible  that  few   physicians   have  exa- 
mined these  recrements  of  the  body  with  that  at- 
tention, accuracy,  and  diligence,  that  a  point  of 
so  great  importance  requires;    and  though  they 
are   many   and   divers,    yet    they   all    contribute 
their  share  to  the  maceration,    attenuation,   and 
digestion  of  our  aliments  in  the  mouth  ;    and  to 
the  greater  liquidation   of  the  chyle  in  the  sto- 
mach and  intestines  ;     to  the  more  perfect  fusion 
of  the  blood  in  the  veins  and  arteries ;    and  the 
better  secretion  of  the  various  juices,  separated 
and  collected  in   the  different  folliculi  or  recep- 
tacles,  situated   in     the    various     organs   of  the 
body,  and  which  are  ordained  by  nature,  to  serve 
very  great   and    imporlant     uses   in   the   animal 
economy. 


IM376967 


IV  INTRODUCTORY  DISCOURSE. 

f 

These  recrements  are  distinguished  from  the 
excrementitious  discharges,  as  the  latter  are 
thrown  out  of  the  body,  and  of  no  further  use 
in  support  of  the  several  respective  parts  of  the 
animal,  and  which  therefore  are  called  the  ex- 
crements ;  and  while  the  former  serve  many 
great  and  necessary  purposes  in  life,  so  that  I 
question  whether  any  animal  circulation,  secre- 
tion, or  excretion,  could  be  carried  on,  without 
the  assistance  of  these  recrements  ;  for  all  the 
motions  of  the  chyle,  blood,  and  animal  juices 
would  stagnate  and  stand  still  in  an  instant,  were 
it  not  for  the  saliva,  bile,  pancreatic  juice,  and 
divers  other  fluids,  secreted  from  the  arterial 
blood.  And  as  these  secreted  fluids  are  the  main 
principles  that  support  the  life  of  animals  ;  so  iu 
the  most  noxious,  venomous,  and  poisonous 
creatures,  where  the  great  mischief  is  done  by  a 
bite,  and  the  infusion  of  a  poisonous  fluid  into 
the  wound,  as  is  done  by  the  viper ;  then  upon 
reflection,  we  discover  that  there  must  neces- 
sarily be  a  counter  poison,  generated  and  se- 
creted somewhere  in  the  body  itself,  to  preserve 
thi5  noxious  animal  from  the  force  and  deadly 
effects  of  its  own  poison. 

But  of  all  the    various  separations  and   secre- 
tions, I  know  none  of  so   much  consequence  to 


INTRODUCTORY  DISCOUHSE.  V 

the  body,  as  that  secreted  liquor,  we  cull  the 
saliva,  or  what  is  generally  meant  by  the  fasting 
spittle,  as  will  more  clearly  appear  when  we 
come  to  speak  of  its  effects  and  consequences 
upon  the  bodies  of  rational  animals  ;  for  without 
this  secreted  fluid,  we  could  neither  chew  our 
victuals,  nor  swallow  our  food  into  the  stomach, 
nor  digest  it  after  it  was  there ;  so  that  all 
the  motions  of  the  body  would  grow  dry,  stag- 
nate, and  be  at  perpetual  rest,  were  not  our 
several  aliments  mixed,  attenuated,  and  suf- 
ficiently diluted  in  the  mouth,  by  the  penetrating 
salts  of  the  salival  fluid,  before  they  are  swal- 
lowed down  into  the  stomach. 

And  though  of  late  we  have  heard  of  mighty 
feats  being  done  by  the  virtues  of  crude  mer- 
cury, tar-water,  and  divers  other  quack  medi- 
cines, sold  up  an  down  this  town,  with  royal 
patents  and  dignified  titles,  yet  I  question, 
whether  in  the  gravel,  stone,  gout,  and  rheu- 
matism, there  ever  yet  was,  or  at  this  time  is,  or 
at  times  to  come,  shall  be  discovered  a  medicine 
more  valuable  in  the  foregoing  diseases,  than 
what  I  now  offer  for  the  benefit  of  mankind. 

And  the  patient  may  assure  himself,  that  if 
these  rules  and  cautions,  laid  down  in  the  follow- 


VI  INTRODUCTORY  DISCOURSE. 

ing^  pages,  are  but  rightly  pursued,  and  duly 
executed,  they  will  mightily  contribute,  not 
only  to  preserve  him  in  health,  but  also  prove 
extremely  efficacious  to  restore  that  invaluable 
blessing,  whenever  overpowered  by  the  force  of 
a  disease.  And  in  all  these  cases,  I  find  little 
occasion  for  the  use  of  medicine,  providing  the 
patient  eats  his  crust  punctuallij  in  a  morning 
fasting,  and  is  observing  of  the  air,  diet,  and 
exercise  I  have  set  before  him. 


SECT.  I. 

OF  THE  VIRTUES  OF  A  CRUST  OF  BREAD,  EAT  EARLY 
IN  THE  MORNING  FASTING,  WITH  ITS  FORCE  AND 
EFFICACV  IN  RELIEVING  THE  SCURVY,  GRAVEL 
STONE,    GOUT,    RHEUMATISM,    AND  VARIOUS  OTHER 

DISEASES. 

JL  Am  now  going  to  speak  of  a  remedy,  second 
to  none  in  the  cure  and  relief  given  in  the  fore- 
going diseases ;  it  may  indeed  serve  other  inten- 
tions and  purposes,  as  far  as  I  know,  but  in 
the  gravel,  stone,  gout,  and  rheumatism,  I 
know  it  to  be  the  best  and  surest  remedy  hitherto 
discovered;  and  if  you  join  fasting  to  this  noble 
medicine,  I  know  none  more  efficacious.  Would 
you  know  this  invaluable  secret,  it  is  alistinence: 
I  say  abstinence ; — but  by  the  word  abstinence, 
I  do  not  mean  a  mere  negative  remedy,  as  if 
fasting  was  to  do  all  the  work  herself,  by  suffer- 
ing nature  in  the  due  course  of  time  to  resolve 
the  obstructions,  and  at  her  leisure  to  digest  off 
the    viscid    juices    and    corrupt   humours;    for 


8  A    TREATISE  ON    A 

abstinence  is  only  necessary  as  an  assistant,  both 
to  improve  the  operation,  and  enable  the  crust 
of  bread,  eat  carl}'  in  a  morning;  fasting  to 
exert  its  virtues  with  more  salutary  effects. 
For  all  medicines  operate  best  upon  an  empty 
stomach,  and  few  purging  medicines  are  advised 
if  they  are  greatly  efficacious,  but  that  they 
are  prescribed  to  be  taken  in  a  morning  earl}', 
and  the  first  thing  that  the  patient  does  ;  and 
he  is  often  advised  not  to  cat  till  two  or  three 
hours  after. 

I  chuse  to  express  myself  in  the  vulgar  man- 
ner of  sqeech,  because  the  visible  relief  given 
in  the  gravel  or  stone  is  usually  ascribed  to  the 
bread  alone,  and  not  to  any  other  assistant 
remedy  mixed  with  it  in  the  mouth,  or  in  its 
passage  to  the  stomach,  and  so  into  the  blood : 
for  it  is  a  truth,  established  by  constant  observa- 
tion and  experience,  that  divers  persons,  by  eat- 
ing a  crust  of  bread  in  a  morning  early,  and 
fasting  two  or  three  hours  after  it,  have  received 
great  relief  in  the  gravel ;  others  have  declared, 
that  under  the  stone  their  severest  symptoms  have 
been  mightily  mitigated  ;  and  some  again,  under 
the  most  painful  symptoms  of  the  gout  and 
rheumatism,  have  found  their  pains  greatly  re- 
lieved by  adhering  to  this  remedy,  and  applying 


CRUST  OF   BREAD. 


9 


chewed  bread  well  moistened  with  the  fastins^ 
saliva,  warm  to  the  gouty  parts.  And  I  do  not 
speak  these  things  of  two  or  three  people  only 
that  have  accidentally  been  thus  relieved,  but  of 
hundreds,  nay  I  may  say  thousands,  that  within 
my  own  knowledge,  have  received  great  benefit 
from  this  invaluable  and  salutary  medicine. 

Now  to  examine  the  main  point,  and  enquire 
upon  what  principles  this  great  relief  is  given  ; 
for  if  we  consider  the  bread  itself,  this  concrete 
can    have    no   efficacy    at    one  time  more  than 
another  ;  if  the  efficacy,  I  say,    proceeds    from 
the  intrinsical  principles  of  the  bread  ;  for  then 
a  crust  eat  at  five  or  six  in  the  afternoon,  or  at 
a  proper  distance  from  our  meals,  must  produce 
the  same  effects  upon  the  urhiary  passages  ;  upon 
the  obstructions  of  the  joints  and  membranes  of 
the  muscles,  that  it  does  when  eat  in  a  morning 
fasting  ;  and  therefore  we  are  to  consider,  whe- 
ther  this   virtue   and   efficacy,   supposed   to  be 
lodged  in  the  bread,  may  not  more  properly  be 
owing  to  some  other  assisting  cause,  than  to  the 
piece   of  bread  itself;  for  we  know  very  well, 
that  the  matter  of  fact  is  so,  viz.  that  a  crust 
of  bread,  early  eat  in  a  morning  fasting,  does 
produce  these  good  effects  in  the  aforesaid  dis- 
eases ;  and  if  we  search  into  the  virtues  of  bread, 

B 


10  A  TREATISE   ON  A 

and   consider  wliat   ingredients   there   are   in  a 
crust,  we  shall  not  discover  any  virtues  in  the 
bread,  more  than  to  nourish  the  body  ;  for  the 
purest  wheats  when  changed  into  never  so  many 
different  forms,   only   produces  a  more   elegant 
nourishment :  this  is  the  prime  law  of  its  nature, 
and  therefore  we  cannot  suppose  that  the  bread 
itself  can  contain  any  powers  capable  of  produ- 
cing these  principles  of  dissolution  of  the  gravely 
attenuation  of  the  phlegm,  and  mitigation  of  the 
painful  symptoms  of  the  stone  ;  and  therefore  I 
must   conclude,   that  the   bread   itself  does  not 
contain  any  principles  powerful  enough  to  ac- 
complish that  great  relief  that  is  often  received 
from  eating  a  crust  of  bread  in  a  morning  early  ; 
for  then  its  great  efficacy  would  sensibly  appear, 
from  the  great  quantities  we  eat  of  this  aliment, 
in   our   several   meals,   at   morning,   noon,    and 
night :  and  hence  I  infer,  that  the  good  that  is 
known  to  ensue,  from  eating  the  bread,  must  be 
the   result   of  somewhat   that   accompanies  the 
bread,  and  that  we  can  conceive  to  be  nothing 
but  the  fasting  saliva,  which  leads  me  to  speak 
of  the  origin,  secretion,  and  composition  of  this 
fluid,  or  what  we  vulgarly  call  the  fasting  spittle  ; 
as  it  is  a  fluid  that  serves  divers  great  and  impor- 
tant purposes  in  the  animal  economy. 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  \l 


SECT.  II. 

OF  THE  ORIGIN,  SECRETION,  AND  COMPOSITION  OF 
THE  FASTING  SALIVA^  AS  TAE  FLUID  THAT  FIRST 
MIXES  WITH  THE  BREAD,  IN  THE  MOUTH;  IN  ITS 
PASSAGE  THROUGH  THE  GULA  ;  AND  IN  ITS  DESCENT 
INTO  THE  STOMACH  ;  AS  THE  SOLE  CAUSE  OF  THE 
FOREGOING  SALUTARY  EFFECTS, 

X  Observed  in  the  first  section,  that  few  physi- 
cians had  sufficiently  examined  the  recrements  of 
the  body  ;  and  so  far  looked  into  the  mysteries  of 
nature,  as  to  consider  for  what  purposes  and 
uses  in  life,  thej-  were  separated  and  secreted  into 
their  proper  channels  and  receptacles ;  for  we 
daily  perceive,  that  the  saliva,  the  pancreatic 
juice,  and  the  biliose  humours,  are  three  liquors 
secreted  from  their  respective  organs,  that  serve 
great  and  eminent  purposes  in  the  animal  econo- 
my ;  and  as  the  saliva,  or  what  wc  call  the  spittle, 
is  the  last  and  most  considerable  of  the  secre- 
tions, so  I  think  it  will  be  proper  to  examine 
the  nature,  properties,  and  constituent  principles 
o.f  a  fluid  that  is  often  the  cause  of  considerable 
changes  and  alterations  in  life. 


12  A  TREATISE    ON   A 

Now  the  three  grand  recrements  of  the  body, 
viz.  the  saliva,  bile,  and  seed,  are  three  princi- 
ples that  not  only  preserve  life  and  health  in  the 
individuum  ;  but  the  last  secreted  fluid  is  that 
sacred  balsam  that  has  continued  the  species 
from  the  beginning  of  the  vv^orld  to  this  time, 
and  which  will  so  continue  it  to  the  latest  period 
of  nature;  and  therefore  methinks  they  deserve 
a  more  particular  enquiry  than  what  I  perceive 
physicians,  hitherto,  have  been  pleased  to  bestow 
upon  them  :  however,  I  shall  in  this  little  tract 
only  proceed  to  examine  the  recrement  of  the 
saliva,  the  principles  of  the  juices  secreted  in 
the  stomach,  and  the  properties  of  the  bile,  as 
subjects  the  most  proper  at  present  for  my  en- 
quiry ;  and  shall  postpone  the  last  to  a  more 
convenient  opportunity. 

However,  before  we  proceed  to  discover  the 
powers,  efficacy,  and  operation  of  the  fasting 
spittle,  I  judge  it  highly  necessary  that,  in  the 
first  place,  we  proceed  to  examine  the  origin, 
secretion  and  composition  of  this  noble  fluid,  as 
it  is  separated  from  the  arterial  blood  ;  because 
upon  these  principles  most  of  its  active  powers, 
in  a  great  measure,  will  be  found  to  have  their 
dependence. 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  13 

The  saliva,  or  what  we  call  the  fasting  spittle, 
is  originally  secreted  from  the  arterial  blood  by 
two  complex  glands,  called  the  parotides,  which 
according  to  Steno  and  Nuck,  two  accomplished 
anatomists,  lie  at  the  root  of  the  ear,  one  on 
each  side  of  the  neck.  These  glands  secern  the 
grosser  saliva ;  and,  by  means  of  a  number  of 
little  small  tubes,  arising  from  the  inner  coat  of 
these  glands,  convey  the  secreted  liquor  into  one 
common  duct,  which,  near  the  third  upper  grinder, 
opens  into  the  mouth,  whereby  the  jaws,  tongue, 
and  all  the  inner  parts  of  the  lips,  are  moistened 
with  this  viscous,  secreted  spittle. 

But,  besides  these  two  large  secretory  glands, 
that  furnish  out  the  grosser  secretions,  for  mois- 
tening the  mouth  in  general,  there  are  discovered, 
by  later  anatomists,  divers  other  minute,  con- 
globate glands,  that  secrete  a  finer,  thinner,  and 
more  attenuated  fluid  ;  these  have  their  roots  in 
the  palate,  tongue,  gums,  and  lips,  all  whose 
membranes  are  perforated  with  little  small  tubuli, 
that  let  into  the  mouth  a  fine,  thin,  volatile  saliva, 
somewhat  more  attenuated  than  the  former : 
however,  all  these  fountains  of  spittle  are  so 
commodiously  situated,  that  they  must  neces- 
sarily, upon  closing  of  the  lips,  pressure  of  the 
jaws,    and    combining    or    compressmg    of  the 


14  A   TREATISE    ON   A 

checks^  squL'cze  out  a  good  quantity  of  their 
contents  into  the  mouth,  for  the  separating, 
moistening,  and  dissolving  of  the  aliments  we 
take  for  the  support  of  life. 

And  this  is  the  reason  why  these  glands  dis- 
charge the  greatest  quantities  of  their  secreted 
liquors  during  mastication,  or  when  we  chew 
our  food  ;  because  then  there  is  not  only  the 
greatest  pressure  upon  these  organs,  but,  at  the 
same  time,  all  the  parts  of  the  mouth  are  put 
into  greater  motions  and  compressions,  than  at 
any  other  time  whatever ;  for  to  make  the  expe- 
riment, if  you  please  to  grind  close  the  teeth, 
and  at  the  same  time  compress  your  cheeks  with 
the  lips,  you  will  readily  perceive  a  larger  dis- 
charge of  saliva  to  ooze  from  these  respective 
glands,  than  when  the  same  lie  still,  are  at  rest, 
and  under  no  compression. 

But,  of  all  remedies  prescribed,  we  ought 
not  only  to  attempt  to  know  their  origin,  nature, 
and  production,  but  also  to  endeavour  to  pene- 
trate into  the  principles,  powers,  and  properties 
they  consist  of,  whereby  we  shall  be  better 
enabled  to  discover  their  manner  of  action,  and 
the  different  efforts  they  exert  upon  the  various 
organs  of  the  animal  economy. 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  15 

As  to  the  saliva,  when  all  the  ditt'erent  secre- 
tions are  intimatel}'  mixed  in  the  mouth,  and 
formed  into  one  uniform,  attenuated  frothy 
humour;  the  mixture  then  appears,  from  experi- 
ments, to  constitute  a  fine,  thin,  volatile,  silver- 
coloured  fluid,  which  is  secreted  from  tlio  arte- 
rial blood  in  the  carotid  arteries,  and  called  the 
saliva,  or  spittle. 

Upon  examination,  it  appears  to  be  a  composi- 
tion of  salt,  oil,  and  sulphur,  dissolved  in  a  pretty 
large  quantity  of  a  fine,  thin,  attenuated  phlegm, 
very  nearly  resembling  the  consistence  of  soap 
water,  to  which  it  is  very  nearly  related  by  the 
virtues  of  its  qualities. 

Under  a  sound  state    of  health,  it  is  without 
smell,  perfectly  insipid,  or,  if  it  has  any  taste, 
it  may  properly  be  said  to  resemble  the  white  of 
an  egg :   to   the   touch  it   is    extremely    viscid  ; 
easily  mixes  with  oil,  and  therefore  is  oleose  ;  it 
readily  evaporates  with  the  least  force   of  fire, 
and  therefore  contains  a  large  portion  of  volatile 
parts  ;  and  in  its    nature  is   mightily  penetrant 
and  abstersive,  and  therefore  will  destroy  even 
the  sphericity  of  the  mercurial  globes  themselves, 
whose  round  figures  are  so  difficult  to  destroy, 
unless  you  apply  salts,   fire,  sulphur,  or  ingre- 
dients of  an  unctuous,  adhesive  nature. 


16  A  TREATISE  ON  A 


SECT.  III. 

OF  THE  PROPERTIES,  VIRTUES,  AND  SALUTARY  EF- 
FECTS OF  THE  FASTING  SALIVA,  WHEN  EXTERNALLY 
APPLIED  TO  OLD  ACHES,  PAINS,  RECENT  CUTS, 
WOUNDS,  ULCERS,  CORNS,    SORE    EYFS,  AND  GOUTY 

NODES. 

XF  we  consider  the  fasting  saliva  alone,  and  as 
it  is  secreted  from  the  salival  glands,  situated  in 
the  jaws  and  mouth,    we   shall    perceive  divers 
great  and  remarkable  effects  to  arise  from  its  ap- 
plication ;  for  this  saliva  may  most  properly  be 
called  the  noble  balsam  of  nature,  as  it  is  a  surer 
relief,  in  most  cases,  where  outwardly  applied, 
than  what    most    people  will    easily    be  led    to 
believe,  that  nave  not  themselves  tried  its  effi- 
cacy :   I  do  not  desire  to  be  too  sanguine  upon 
the  virtues  of  the  fasting  saliva ;  but  shall  only 
beg  leave  of  the  reader  to  lay  down  what  I  know 
to  be  matter  of  fact ;  and  then  shall  proceed  to 
give  a  detail  of  divers  very  surprising  cures,  that 
one  Mrs.  Bostock,  at  Nantwich,  in  Chester,  has 
done  to  vast  numbers  of  people,  in  that  neigh- 
bourhood, by   the   outward   application   of  the 
fasting  saliva,  vulgarly  called  the  fasting  spittle. 


CRUST  OF  BREAD,  17 

I  am  intimately  acquainted  with  a  gentleman, 
that  every  spring  and  fall  was  accosted  with  a 
very  troublesome  scorbutic  tetter  ;  he  had  taken 
mercury  in  all  shapes,  advised  with  several  phy- 
sicians, and  by  their  advice  had  applied  mixtures, 
ointments,  and  waters,  prescribed  for  tettery 
humours,  but  without  success :  at  last,  he  was 
advised  to  apply  the  fasting  saliva  every  morn- 
ing, which,  in  a  fortnight's  time,  effectually 
cured  him. 

Nor  do  I  know  a  better  medicine  for  trouble- 
some corns.     A  person  of  some  distinction  had  a 
corn  on  the  off  side  of  his  foot,  that  so  shackled 
his  limbs,  as  almost  to  reduce  him  to  the  state  of 
a  cripple :  he  employed  the  corn-cutter  without 
effect ;  for  every  time  it  was  cut,  it  both  bled 
and    pained   him   very  much.     These  are  usual 
accidents  that   happen    from  a  nerve  and  vein, 
that  entered  into   the  composition  of  the  corn, 
and  whose  sensibility  and  cavity  were  not  totally 
destroyed  by  so  hard  a  body  :  he  had  made  use 
of  plaisters,  balsams,  ointments,  lotions,  and  all 
manner    of  applications,   but   to   no   manner  of 
purpose  ;  he  then   accidentally  asked  a  gentle- 
man's opinion,  and  was  advised  every   night  to 
soak  his  feet  in  warm  water  and  bran,   and  the 
next  morning  to  apply  chewed  bread,  well  mois- 

c 


18  A  TREATISE  ON  A 

tened  with  the  fasting  spittle,  by  way  of  poultice, 
which,  in  a  little  time,  perfectly  relieved  him  ; 
for  the  corn,  in  less  than  a  week,  tumbled  out  by 
the  roots,  and  he  has  heard  no  more  of  it  since. 
The  like  happened  to  a  gentleman  that  was  ad- 
vised to  apply  the  chewed  bread  mixed  with  the 
fasting  spittle,  to  a  gouty  node,  which  mightily 
relieved  him,  and  has  kept  his  feet  easy  ever  since. 


In  those  hard  excrescences,  we  call  warts,  in 
the  hands,  face,  and  divers  other  parts  of  the 
body,  il  is  an  infallible  cure,  if  constantly  used. 
It  also  mightily  assists  in  relieving  sore  eyes, 
especially  those  whose  eye-lids,  from  hard  drink- 
ing, are  red,  angry,  and  inflamed :  in  these 
cases,  if  you  do  but  lightly  touch  the  parts 
affected,  with  this  noble  balsam,  every  morning, 
you  will  find  great  relief.  And  we  know  by  cer- 
tain experience,  that,  in  all  cuts,  recent  wounds, 
and  accidental  hurts,  the  fasting  saliva  is  a  sove- 
reign remedy;  and  its  penetrant,  dissolving,  ab- 
stersive qualities  are  so  great,  that  if  it  be  suffi- 
ciently rubbed  with  mercury,  vulgarly  called 
quick-silver,  it  will  mortify  that  mineral,  and 
destroy  the  sphericity  of  its  globes,  though  one 
of  the  most  active  bodies  in  nature. 

But   the   great  cures    done  by   one  Bridget 


CRUST   OF    BREAD.  19 

Bostock,  at  Nantwich,  in  Cheshire,  by  the  exter- 
nal application  of  fasting  spittle,  would  surmount 
all  credit,  and  scarce  gain  belief,  had  we  not 
sufficient  attestations,  from  several  authentic  let- 
ters, that  put  the  matters  of  fact  above  all  dis- 
pute ;  for,  in  a  letter  from  a  person  of  undoubted, 
character,  he  tells  us,  ''  that  this  old  woman,  all 
*'  her  life  time,  made  it  her  business  to  cure 
"  her  neighbours,  and  people  that  lived  near 
"  her,  of  sore  legs  and  other  disorders.  But  her 
''  reputation,  of  late,  seems  so  wonderfully  in- 
"  creased,  that  people  come  to  her  from  all  parts 
"  far  and  near.  A  jear  ago  she  had,  as  I  re- 
"  member,  about  forty  under  her  care  :  when  I 
"  went  to  London,  she  had  one  hundred  in  the 
"  compass  of  a  week  ;  and  they  encreased  so  fast 
*'  that  by  the  time  I  came  back,  which  was  not 
"  above  three  weeks,  she  had  above  eight  score ; 
"  and  this  day  five  weeks  one  hundred  and  six- 
"  teen ;  Sunday  se'en-night  my  wife  and  self 
"  went  to  Bridget's  house,  and  were  told,  by 
"  the  persons  that  kept  the  door,  and  let  the 
"  people  in  by  fives  and  sixes,  that  they  had 
"  that  day  told  six  hundred  to  whom  she  had 
"  administered  :  she  at  length  grew  so  very  faint, 
"  for  she  never  breaks  her  fast  till  she  has  done, 
"  that,  at  six  of  the  o'clock  in  the  evening,  she 
"  was  obliged  to  give  over  her  operations,  though 


20 


A  TREATISE  ON  A 


*'  then  there  were  more  than  sixty  persons  to 
"  whom  she  had  not  administred.  On  Monday 
"  last  she  had  seven  hundred,  and  every  day  at 
*'  present  near  that  number. 

*'  She  cures  the  blind,  the  deaf,  and  the  lame 
*'  of  all  sorts  :  numbers  of  people  have  received 
"  great  benefit  in  the  rheumatism,  king's  evil, 
*'  hysteric  fits,  falling  sickness,  and  shortness  of 
*'  breath  :  she  also  mightily  relieves  the  dropsy, 
*'  palsy,  leprosy,  cancers,  and,  in  short,  almost 
*'  every  disease  mankind  is  subject  to,  except 
'*  the  French  pox,  which  she  will  not  be  pre- 
**  vailed  on,  by  any  means,  to  meddle  with." 

But  here  I  must  beg  leave,  so  far  to  interfere 
with  this  old  woman,  as  to  declare,  that  in  chan- 
cres, which  is  a  very  stubborn  species  of  the 
venereal  disease,  and  which  often  affects  the 
glans  penis,  and  baffles  the  utmost  efibrts  of  the 
physician  and  surgeon,  without  a  salivation : 
that  there  is  not  a  surer  remedy  than  every  morn- 
ing to  touch  the  part  with  the  fasting  saliva  of  a 
man  or  woman  turned  of  seventy  or  eighty  years 
of  age ;  and,  if  you  extinguish  a  little  crude  mer- 
cury in  the  saliva,  the  efficacy  will  be  so  much  the 
more  considerable  and  certain. 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  21 

But  to  return  from  whence  I  digressed  : 

*'  You  will  be  desirous  to  know  what  medicine 

"  she  uses  to  procure  such  mighty  relief;    and  I 

"  must  tell  jou,  that  all  the  means  she  uses,  are 

"  only   to   stroak  the   part  with  fasting  spittle, 

"  and  praying  for  them ;    it  is  hardly  credible  to 

"  think,    what    cures   she   daily   performs,    and 

"  without  you  were  here  to   see  them,   it  must 

*^' appear    romantic    and    incredible;     for   some 

''  people  grow  well   while  in  the  house,  others 

**  while   on   the  road,   and   all   find   themselves 

^'  better  after  they  are  got  home.     She  is  about 

"  seventy  years  of  age,  and  takes  no  money  for 

*'  her  cures,  though  offered  her ;    in  short,  the 

*'  rich,  the  lame,  the  blind,  and  the  deaf,  all  pray 

*'  for  her,  and  bless  the  great  good  she  does ; 

"  and  the  poor  daily  come  to  her  in  cart  loads. 

"  I  am.  Sir,  &c." 

This  letter,  I  am  well  assured,  comes  from 
a  person  of  great  veracity  and  integrity  ;  and 
therefore  I  think  deserves  some  animadversions, 
as  the  cures,  the  author  speaks  of,  are  many  of 
them  very  surprizing,  and  divers  out  of  the  com- 
mon road  of  external  applications :  however, 
to  make  suitable  remarks  on  these  cures,  we 
must  first  observe,  that  Bridget  Bostock  is 
seventy  years  of  age  ;    that  all  was  done  (besides 


22  A  TREATISE  ON  A 

her  prayers)  by  the  force  of  the  fasting  spittle ; 
as  to  her  prayers,  for  a  blessing  upon  her  endea- 
vours, 1  shall  not  presume  to  say  any  thing,  be- 
cause we  are  assured  in  holy  writ,  that  persons  of 
less  piety,  virtue  and  charity,  than  this  old  wo- 
man seems  to  be  mistress  of,  have  been  enabled 
to  work  miracles ;   and  therefore  we  never  can  be 
certain    how   far   God   Almighty  interposes   his 
finger  in  assisting  the  relief  of  divers  diseases: 
but  in  most  of  these  cases  except  the  dropsy,  I 
will  be  bold  to   say,  that  the  means  this  good 
woman  used  for  the  recovery  of  these  people, 
were  equal  to  the  effects  that  ensued ;  and  in  the 
dropsy  there  arc  two  remedies  may  be  used,  that 
will  infallibly  cure  that  disease,  provided  it  does 
not  arise  from  a  rupture  of  the  lymphatics,  in 
which  case  there  can  no  relief  be  given,  but  by 
tapping  the  patient,  and  that  only  a  transient 
relief,  or  the  patient  is  not  greatly  advanced  in 
years.     Thus   far    I  could    not  but  remark,    in 
cases,   so  particular  in  their  aspect,  and  which 
were  relieved  by  such  a  simple  remedy  as  I  am 
now  treating  of. 


CRUST  OF   BREAD,  23 


SECT.  IV. 

OF  THE  VEHICLE  MOST  PROPER  TO  CONVEY  THIS  SO- 
VEREIGN REMEDY  INTO  THE  STOMACH,  IN  ORDER 
TO  FACILITATE  ITS  OPERATION  AND  SALUTARY  EF- 
FECTS, UPON  THE  VARIOUS  VISCERA,  ORGANS^  AND 
FLUIDS  OF  ANIMAL  BODIES. 

txiTHERTO  we  have  considered  the  fasting  sa- 
liva alone,  and  as  it  is  applied  to  external  parts 
of  the  body :  I  am  conae  now  to  speak  of  its 
salutary  effects,  when  it  is  mixed,  combined,  and 
associated  with  the  fine  fluid  secreted  from  the 
glands  of  the  oesophagus,  or  gula,  in  its  descent 
into  the  stomach ;  when  it  is  combined  with  the 
stomachic  juices,  secreted  from  the  villous  coat 
of  that  important  organ ;  and  the  improvements 
it  acquires^  as  a  dissolvent^  after  it  is  got  out 
of  the  stomach  into  the  intestines,  and  there 
thoroughly  mixed  with  the  bile  and  pancreatic 
juices. 

And  it  plainly  appears,  from  the  observations 
we  have  made  in  the  first  section,  that  the  bread 
is  little  or  nothing  concerned  in  producing  these 
good   efl'ects  we   so  sensibly    perceive  to   ensue. 


24  A  TREATISE  ON  A 

upon   eating   a   crust   of  bread    in   a  morning 
fasting ;  nor  can  the  virtues  that  follow^  upon 
eating  that  concrete,  be  properly  ascribed  to  the 
bread  itself;  for  it  never    could   be  swallowed, 
did    not   the    fasting   saliva    mix    with    it,   and 
convert  it  to  a  pulpous  substance,  and  thereby 
fit  it  for  digestion  ;  for  no   dry   aliments   ever 
could  be  swallowed,  without  a  proper  portion  of 
the  saliva   fluid ;  nor   do   I   conceive,   that  any 
other  liquid  menstruum  would  serve  the  inten- 
tions of  nature  so  well  as  the  saliva :  and  this  is 
the  reason  why  the  greatest  number  of  salival 
glands   are  placed   in   the   mouth,   and,    conse- 
quently, the  greatest  quantity  of  saliva  separated 
from  these   glandular   meshes,    during  mastica- 
tion, or  the  time  we  are  chewing  of  our  food  ; 
for  then  there  is  not  only  the  greatest  pressure 
and   motion  in  all  the  parts  of  the  mouth,  but 
the  muscles  of  the  jaws,   cheeks,  and  lips,  are 
more  forcibly   compressed,  contracted,  and  put 
in  motion,  than  at  any   other   time ;  for   these 
glandular   bodies,    the    fountains   of  the  saliva, 
are  so  commodiously  situated,   that  they    must 
necessarily,    upon   any   pressure   of  the   cheeks, 
or  closing  of  the  jaws,  squeeze  out  their  con- 
tents into  the  mouth  ;  and,  to  make  the   expe- 
riment, let  any  person  grind  close  his  gums  and 
teeth,  and,  at  the  same  time,  straitly  compress 


CRUST  Of  BREAD.  25 

the  muscles  of  his  cheeks  and  jaws^  and  he  will 
readily  perceive  a  larger  discharge  of  saliva  to 
flow  into  his  mouth  from  these  compressions, 
than  is  usual  from  the  same  glands,  at  any 
other  time ;  which  plainly  demonstrates  how 
much  the  action  of  these  muscles  contributes 
to  influence  the  discharge  of  the  salival  glands. 

But  if  the  relief  given  does  not  consist  in 
the  virtues  of  the  bread  itself,  but  in  the  secre- 
tion of  the  recrement,  called  the  fasting  spittle ; 
then  you  will  say,  to  what  end  and  purpose 
serves  a  piece  of  bread,  eat  early  in  a  morning 
fasting  ?  To  this  I  answer ;  to  very  great  and 
good  purposes  every  way :  for,  in  the  first 
place,  there  is  no  other  substance  we  know 
of,  that  can  so  properly  be  eat  in  a  morning 
fasting,  as  a  crust  of  bread,  or  that  the  stomach 
will  so  readily  receive  and  digest,  as  that  con- 
crete :  secondly,  of  all  other  aliments,  it  is 
the  most  proper  vehicle  to  imbibe  and  collect 
the  fasting  saliva;  and  therefore,  of  all  other 
vehicles,  it  is  the  fittest  to  be  employed  upon 
these  occasions,  as  it  best  mixes  with  the  saliva  : 
thirdly,  the  force  from  the  teeth,  necessary 
to  divide  a  crust,  and  break  its  cohesions,  will 
more  readily  squeeze  out  the  saliva  from  the 
several  salival  glands. 

D 


26 


A  TREATISE  ON   A 


These  are  the  reasons  1  offer  in  preference  to 
a  crust  of  bread  :  and   therefore  I  judge,  that 
no  other  concrete  will  so   readily  serve  the  pur- 
pose,   as   a   crust   of  bread,   unless    it  be   what 
we  call  the  captain's  biscuits,  which  they  carry- 
to  sea  for  their  own  eating  ;  these  are  still  pre- 
ferable to  bread,  as  they  are  still  harder  than  a 
crust,  and  more  destitute  of  all  foreign  mixtures, 
as  they  are  free  from  both  leaven  and  yeast ;  but 
as  these  sometimes  may  be  difficult  to  be  had,  so 
I  judge  a  piece  of  bread,    in  the   general,    the 
best  vehicle  we  can  substitute,  in  order  to  con- 
vey the  fasting  saliva  info   the  stomach.     And 
hence   it  clearly   appears,   that  the  virtue  and 
efficacy,    that    result    from    eating   a   crust    of 
bread,  does  not  so  properly   arise  from  the  bread 
itself,    as  the  chewing  and  mixing  it  with  the 
fasting  spittle ;  and  therefore,  to   improve   this 
fine,  liquid,  volatile  soap,  and  exalt  its   virtues, 
I  advise  you,  having  eat  nothing  over-night  for 
supper,  about  five  of  the  clock   in  the  morning, 
to   eat  one  ounce,  or  an  ounce  and  a  half,   of 
either  wheat  or  rye  bread,  which,  in  chewing 
will  take  up   full  half  an  ounce  of  the  fasting 
saliva,  to  reduce  it  into  a  proper,   soft  pulpous 
substance,  and   which,   when   well  chewed   and 
moistened,  will  be  easily  swallowed  ;  and,  when 
you  have  got   it  down  into  the  stomach,  then 


CRUST  OF  EKEAD,  27 

leave  the  rest  to  nature^  and  if  3  ou  can,  go  to 
sleep.  And  it  is  adviseable  that  you  eat  nothing 
for  two  or  three  hours  after  ;  which  leads  me  to 
speak  a  few  things  of  the  consequences  of  its 
being  got  into  the  stomach,  and  of  its  mixture 
with  divers  of  ihe  secreted  juices,  in  the  stomach 
and  intestines. 

Now  this  course,  if  steadily  pursued  for  a 
month  or  six  weeks,  will  prove  of  great  t-dicacv 
in  divers  diseases  that  have  obstructions  and 
sabulous  concretions  for  their  parent,  as  the 
gravel,  stone,  gout,  and  rheumatism. — Nor  is 
it  less  efficacious  in  tumours  of  the  liver,  spleen, 
and  divers  other  organs;  in  all  which  cases  it  is 
known  to  give  great  relief. 


28  A    TREATISE   ON  A 


SECT.  V. 


OF  THE  IMPROVEMENTS  THE  FASTING  SALIVA 
RECEIVES  FROM  ITS  MIXING  WITH  THE  STOMACHIC, 
THE  BILIOUS,  AND  PANCREATIC  JUICES  IN  THE  STO- 
MACH, INTESTINES  AND  PARTS  ADJOINING,*  AND, 
IN  PARTICULAR,  OF  THE  NATURE,  PROPERTIES, 
AND  CONSTITUENT  PRINCIPLES  OF  THE  BILE,  AS  THE 
GREATEST  DISSOLVENT  IN  NATURE. 

J>UT  after  this    fine,   thin,  saponaceous   fluid, 
we  call  the  saliva  or  spittle,  has  left  the  mouth, 
and  before   it    gets   down  into   the  stomach,  it 
receives  considerable  improvements  from  a  fine, 
thin,  attenuated,  volatile  fluid,  secreted  from  a 
number  of  glands  situated  in  the  head  of  the  gula, 
which  still  renders  it  more  penetrant  and  abster- 
sive :  it  still  acquires  more  force  and  energy  from 
its  mixture  with  the  stomach  juices,  discharged 
from  the  various  glands,  whose  orifices  form  the 
velvet  coat  of  this  important  organ :  these  sup- 
ply the  stomach  with  a  fine,  thin,  clear,    spu- 
mous  fluid,   that  tastes  a  little  saline  and  acid, 
but  is  very  active  and  volatile  in  its  properties. 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  29 

This  is  ordained  by  nature  to  penetrate  the 
foods,  break  their  cohesions,  and  help  forward 
their  digestion  for  the  nourishment  of  the  body  : 
and  here  a  very  fair  opportunity  offers  itself  for 
me  to  speak  of  the  principles  of  digestion,  and 
to  discover  how  these  important  changes  are 
brought  about,  that  convert  our  aliments  into 
nourishment;  but  this  would  be  foreign  to  my 
intention,  and  be  a  means  of  rendering  the  dis- 
course tedious,  as  my  avowed  design  is  brevity, 
and  only  to  take  a  view  of  the  secreted  fluids,  as 
far  as,  in  their  course,  they  join  with  the  fast- 
ing saliva,  in  order  to  exalt  it  into  a  fine  sapo- 
naceous liquor,  proper  to  relieve  the  body  of  its 
infirmities. 

Thus  it  appears  how  much  the  fasting  saliva  is 
improved  in  its  nature,  properties  and  action, 
from  the  lubricating  lymph  of  the  gula,  the 
stomachic  juices,  and  the  chylous  fluid,  all  con- 
tinually digesting  in  the  stomach  ;  continually 
secreting  from  their  respective  glands,  and  con- 
tinually flowing  over  the  pilorus  into  the  duo- 
denum, where  they  mix  and  unite  with  the 
bilious  and  pancreatic  juices,  which  greatly  im- 
prove this  noble  active  medicine,  and  by  their 
tumults,    conflicts,   and   conquassations,    render 


30  A    TREATISE  ON  A 

it  the  most  penetrant,   abstersive^  and  dissolving 
medicine  we  know  of  in  nature. 

And  because  I  have  mentioned  the  bilious 
juice  as  an  ingredient  in  this  fine  volatile,  dis- 
solvent medicine,  you  will  permit  me  here  a  little 
to  examine  into  the  nature,  properties,  and  se- 
cretion of  the  bile  because  it  is  a  liquor  that 
will  be  found  to  have  very  considerable  effects 
and  consequences  in  the  various  organs  of  the 
animal  economy. 

The  liver  is  the  organ  ordained  by  nature  for 
(he  separation,  secretion,  and  ultimate  perfec- 
tion of  the  bilious  humour  ;  and  I  should  im- 
mediately proceed  to  examine  the  principles 
and  mechanism  of  this  important  organ,  but 
Malpliigius,  that  accurate  anatomist,  and  our 
learned  countryman.  Dr.  Glisson,  have  so  fully 
exhausted  this  subject,  that  they  have  left  but 
little,  that  is  new,  to  be  said  by  those  who  come 
after  them  :  And,  as  I  am  only  to  observe  the 
nature  of  secretion,  the  principles  of  the  bile, 
and  the  uses  and  purposes  for  which  it  is  or- 
dained to  serve  in  life  ;  so,  I  judge  that  the 
course  of  the  vessels,  their  various  ramifications, 
and  their  aptness  for  the  secretion  of  this  humour. 


CRUST    <)F   BREAD.  'Si 

will    furnish   out   every   thing    necessary    to    be 
known  upon  this  subject. 

However,  I  think  proper  here  to  observe,  that 
the  modus  of  secretion  of  the  bile  in  the  liver,  is 
different  from  the  hilmours  secreted  in  all  other 
parts  of  the  body :  for  in  all  other  parts,  the 
secretions  are  usually  made  from  an  artery,  but 
in  the  liver  nature  has  inverted  that  order,  and 
makes  use  of  a  vein :  and  therefore  the  vena 
porta  is  appointed  for  this  important  office. 
This  vein  receives  the  blood  from  the  spleen, 
from  the  mesenteric  arteries,  and  from  almost  all 
the  organs  situated  in  the  lower  belly.  This  san- 
guineous fluid  moving  much  slower  in  the  vena 
porta,  than  it  would  have  done  in  an  artery 
of  the  same  structure  and  mechanism,  is  the  sole 
cause  why  the  bilious  salts  are  so  readily  disposed 
to  attract  each  other,  and  form  a  fluid  with  that 
viscidity  necessary  to  give  consistence  to  the 
bile  ;  and  for  this  end  and  purpose  the  vena  porta 
and  biliary  vessels  are  enclosed  in  one  common 
sheath  or  capsule;  they  enter  the  liver  on  the 
concave  side,  and  are  equally  distributed  through 
all  its  substance ;  so  that  wherever  there  is  a 
branch  of  the  one  there,  upon  good  inspection, 
you  will  be  sure  to  discover  a  branch  of  the 
other :  and  therefore  each  lobe,  and  each  gland 


32  A  TREATISE  ON  A 

of  that  lobe,  whether  on  the  convex  or  cancave 
side,  receives  the  same  vessels,  viz.  a  vein,  nerve, 
and  artery,  called  arteria  hepatica,  to  convey 
the  nourishment  for  the  use  of  the  liver. 

The  porta  receives  the  blood  from  the  neigh- 
bouring parts,  which  is  very  sharp,  by  reason 
of  the  close  union  of  the  bilious  salts ;  for  the 
lymph  that  kept  them  asunder  is  separated  from 
the  blood  by  the  glands  of  the  stomach,  in- 
testines, pancreas,  and  mesentery ;  and  there- 
fore, if  this  sharp  detersive,  saline  bile,  did 
continue  to  circulate  with  the  blood,  it  must 
frequently  occasion  vehement  fevers,  colliqua- 
tive fluxes,  heart-burnings,  and  severe  cholic 
pains ;  but  these  miserable  effects  are  often  pre- 
vented by  a  soft  oleous  fluid,  that  tempers  these 
sharp,  keen  salts,  and  blunts  their  acrimonious 
efliects,  both  upon  the  intestines  and  parts  ad- 
joining. 

In  the  secretion  of  the  bile  we  are  to  observe, 
that  the  vena  porta  hepatica  terminates  in  little 
small  glandular  folliculi,  that  secrete  the  bile 
from  the  blood;  from  these  small  glands  the  bilious 

humour  is  received  into  the  extremities  of  the 
pori  biliarii,  as  they  inosculate  with  the  extre- 
mities of  the  vena   porta,  and  which,  by  their 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  33 

unions,  form  one  trunk,  called  the  ductus  hepa- 
ticus  :  this  trunk  empties  part  of  the  gall  into 
the  gall-bladder :  from  the  gall-bladder  arises 
the  ductus  cysticus,  which,  uniting  with  the 
ductus  hepaticus,  form  one  common  trunk, 
called  the  ductus  communis  cholidocus,  that 
conveys  the  gall  into  the  duodenum,  near  its 
curvature,  that  forms  the  beginning  of  the  je- 
junum ;  80  that  only  part  of  the  gall  flows  into 
the  vesica  fellea,  by  the  cystic  duct,  while  the 
other  part  is  conveyed  into  the  intestines,  by 
the  ductus  communis  cholidocus,  that  opens 
into  that  organ  by  an  oblique  insertion. 

The  bile  seems  to  be  a  gross,  thick,  viscid, 
oelus  phlegm,  well  impregnated  with  salts  of 
various  kinds,  as  sweet,  bitter,  acerb,  muriatic, 
and  bitter  sweet ;  all  which  are  blended  and 
intimately  mixed  in  a  small  quantity  of  viscid 
phlegm  :  in  this  fluid,  more  than  any  other  of 
the  body,  the  oil  and  salts  greatly  predominate  ; 
for  an  ounce  of  black  gall  contained  in  the  fund 
of  the  vesica  fellea  yields  oil  and  salts,  of  each 
three  drachms,  of  phlegm  only  two  drachms. 

If  you  examine  the  gall  in  the  liver,  in  the 
pori  biliani,  and  gall  bladder,  you  will  find  it 
of  a  diflerent  consistence,  colour  and  bitterness, 
in   all  these   three  different   situations ;  for   the 

E 


34  A   TREATISE    ON    A 

gall  in  the  liver,  or  glandular  folliculi,  is  of  a 
pale  green,  more  fluid,  saltish,  and  less  bitter ; 
that  in  the  cystic  duct  more  viscid,  less  bitter, 
but  greatly  partaking  of  saccharine  salts ;  that  in 
the  gall  bladder  appears  of  a  deep  porraceous 
green  ;  and,  lastly,  that  in  the  fund,  inclining  to 
a  blackish  hue,  and  which  is  more  viscid,  less 
salt,  but  contains  more  of  the  bitterish  twang. 

I  could  not  but  be  thus  particular  upon  the 
nature,  principles  and  secretion  of  the  bile, 
because  our  great  master,  Hippocreitcs,  avers, 
that  the  ingredients  of  bile  are  generated  with 
the  first  principles  of  life ;  and,  when  it  hap- 
pens to  be  vicious,  redundant,  or  defective,  fails 
not  to  become  the  parent  of  most  diseases  that 
any  way  can  affect  the  constitutions  of  animal 
bodies,  especially  those  that  are  hot,  fiery,  and 
inflammatory ;  and  though  every  constitution 
must  necessarily  generate  bile,  yet  a  tense 
springy  constitution,  or  a  constitution  with  very 
elastic  fibres,  must  necessarily  have  this  humour 
in  the  largest  proportion ;  and  those  liable  to 
generate  much  bile  are  very  prone,  spring  and 
fall,  to  fall  into  loosenesses,  fluxes,  and  the  cholera 
morbus,  which  is  what  we  call  a  bilious  vomit- 
ing ;  accompanied  with  a  looseness,  where  great 
quantities  of  yellow,  green,  and  black  stools 
are  discharged. 


CRUST   OF  BKEAD.  35 


SECT.  VI. 

OF  SOME  OTHER  SOVEREIGN  PROPERTIES  OF  THE 
BILE  ;  AS  IT  BOTH  PROMOTES  THE  DIGESTION  OF  OUR 
ALIMENTS,  ASSISTSTHE  CIRCULATION  OF  THE  BLOOD, 
AND  HELPS  FORWARD  THE  GLANDULAR  SECRETION 
IN  EVERY  PART  OF  THE  BODY. 

JlJut  I  have  not  yet  done  with  the  bile;  for  it 
is  a  secreted  humour  of  that  vast  service  and 
use  in  the  animal  economy,  that  I  very  much 
question  whether  either  health  could  subsist,  or 
life  itself  be  continued,  without  its  assistance ; 
for  this  bile  I  am  speaking  of,  is  a  secretion  so 
universal,  that  I  do  not  know  one  single  species 
of  animals  destitute  of  this  noble  secretion;  for 
man,  beast,  reptiles,  and  the  various  classes  of 
the  fish  kind,  all  have  bile,  and  in  all  these 
different  subjects,  it  is  the  bitterest  humour  in 
the  whole  body ;  which  is  a  strong  argument 
with  me,  of  the  necessity  of  bitter  medicines  in 
divers  cases  of  diseases,  especially  when  they 
are  properly  applied. 

Now  the  bile  is  so  copious  a  subject,  and 
afford  so  many  experiments  to  enlarge  upon, 
(hat  I   could    write  a  very  large   volume   on  the 


36 


A    TREATISE  ON    A 


principles,  nature,  and  virtues  of  the  bile  alone, 
without  exhausting  the  subject :  and  we  find  by 
experience,  that  all  people  of  a   hot,   choleric, 
dry  constitution,  are  inordinately  subject  to  be 
hot,   furious,  and    passionate,   in   proportion   as 
they  generate  a  greater  or  lesser  quantity  of  bile  : 
however,    I   will   not  say,   that  any   one  of  the 
secreted  liquors  or  recrements  is  the  sole  cause 
of  life  and  health ;  yet  this  I  will  aver,  and  am 
able  to  demonstrate,  that  neither  health  nor  life 
can  long   subsist   where  the   recrements    of  the 
saliva   and   bile   are   for  any   considerable   time 
obstructed  :  and  it  is  the  observation  of  all  natu^ 
ralists,   that  the  bile  greatly  differs  in   its  own 
nature ;  for  in  the  larger  animals,  it  is  less  acrid 
and  sharp,  than  in  those  that  are  little ;  in  beasts 
than  birds ;    and   in   birds   than   fishes ;    and   in 
fishes,  than  the  various  tribes  of  insects  :  how- 
ever, in  man  we  discover  the  most  tinging  bitter 
bile  that  is  in  any  animal  whatsoever  ;  for  it  is  so 
intensely   bitter   in   this  animal,    that   one  drop 
will    communicate    a   bitterish    twang    to    two 
ounces  of  water ;  and   the   same   quantity   will 
tinge  half  a  pint  of  the  same  fluid  with  a  fine, 
beautiful,  palish  green. 

But  to  be  a  little  more  explicit  and  particular 
upon  this  subject,  as  it  is  a  point  of  such  impor- 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  37 

tafice  to  the  health  and  lives  of  auimals:  I  laj- 
it  down  as  a  principle,  not  to  be  contested,  that 
life  itself  depends  upon  a  regular  and  uninter- 
rupted circulation  of  the  blood  and  flnids  through 
the  several  organs  of  the  animal  economy  ;  this 
constant  and  equal  motion  of  the  blood  is  kept 
up  by  the  circulation  of  the  bile,  that  every 
where  destroys  the  tenacious,  thick,  viscid  par- 
ticles of  phlegm,  that  render  the  blood  ropy, 
stagnant,  and  apt  to  fur  up  the  minutest  arte- 
ries. 

This  bilious  humour,  from  its  inciding,  pene- 
trant, and  dissolving  qualities,  not  only  assists 
the  circulation,  but  also  is  greatly  concerned  in 
promoting  the  separation  of  the  chyle  from  the 
fasces,  or  matter  of  our  stools,  assists  its  passage 
into  the  lacteals,  and  then  cuts,  divides,  and 
corrects  the  thick,  viscid  slime,  that  often  ad- 
heres to  the  coats  of  the  stomach  and  intestines  ; 
blocks  up  their  secretions,  and  is  a  frequent 
cause  of  very  severe  cholic  pains. 

But  amongst  all  the  salts  of  the  bile,  which 
are  both  volatile  and  fixed,  there  is  a  peculiar 
essential  salt,  endued  with  a  very  sweet  pro- 
perty :  these  essential  saccharine  salts  more 
readily  join   with  the   chyle,   in   the   intestines. 


38  A    TREATISE   ON    A 

than  any  other ;  and  this  is  that  salt  that  gives  to 
tlie  chvle  both  its  sweetness  of  taste,  and  that 
whiteness  it  obtains  after  it  has  passed  the  vense 
lactJE  primi  generis :  this  saccharine  salt  also 
gives  to  the  urine  of  those  that  labour  under  the 
diabetes,  that  sweet  taste  we  often  discover  in 
those  that,  for  any  considerable  time  have  been 
subject  to  this  disease. 

If  we  proceed  farther  in  our  enquiries,  we 
shall  discover  by  experiments,  that  the  bile  of 
animals  absterges  like  soap,  and  renders  oils 
miscible,  with  water :  as  to  its  virtues,  it  pene- 
trates, attenuates,  and  resolves  all  obstructions 
in  every  part  of  the  body,  and  affects  rosins, 
gums,  and  other  tenacious  bodies,  by  a  dissolu- 
tion of  their  texture  ;  whereby  they  are  brought 
to  mix  with  any  fluid  they  are  applied  to  ;  this 
bile  or  gall  is  neither  alcalious  or  acid,  but 
seems  a  combination  of  various  salts,  oils,  and 
sulphurs,  diluted  in  a  pretty  large  quantity  of 
phlegm :  there  is  no  question  to  be  made,  but 
that  the  principle  use  of  the  bile  is  to  separate, 
attenuate,  and  sheath  the  asperities  of  the  chyle 
by  its  oils  and  sulphurs  ;  to  blunt  the  acids  by  its 
oleous  corpuscles  ;  and  to  assist  the  circulation 
of  the  blood  in  the  veins  and  arteries,  by  its 
stimulating   powers :  it  also  proves  a  stimulus  to 


CRUST  OF   BREAD.  39 

the  intestines,  and  thereby  facilitates  the  descent 
of  our  excrements,  and  without  which  we  should 
be  perpetually  costive,  and  seldom  go  to  stool. 

As  the  bile  is  the  hottest  and  sharpest  of  all 
humours  in  the  body;  so,  in  its  circulation,  it 
every  where  irritates  the  fibres  of  the  veins, 
nerves,  and  arteries,  and  thereby  keeps  up  the 
circulation  of  the  blood,  and  frees  the  glands 
from  obstructions  ;  so  that  without  the  circula- 
tion of  the  bile,  and  constant  secretion  of  this 
bilious  humour,  the  circulation  of  the  blood 
would  be  languid,  the  secretion  of  the  several 
humours  stand  still,  and  life  itself  be  extinct ; 
for  there  is  no  other  power,  that  we  know  of,  in 
nature,  capable  of  keeping  up  the  blood's  mo- 
tion, save  the  bile:  and  therefore,  in  the  blood, 
these  bilious  salts  are  set  at  such  a  distance  from 
each  other,  as  only  to  irritate  the  veins  and  arte- 
ries to  a  degree,  as  may  keep  the  blood  in  mo- 
tion, and  help  forward  the  secretion  of  the  seve- 
ral respective  humours  to  their  destined  ends  and 
purposes  of  life;  but,  as  the  stomach  and  intes- 
tines are  composed  of  more  solid  coats,  so,  to 
make  any  suitable  impressions  upon  their  viscid, 
slimy  secretions,  there  was  a  necessity  for  a  more 
active,  volatile,  inciding  humour  :  and  therefore, 
as  the  bile  came  to  be  secreted  in  the  vena  porta 


40  A   TREATISE    ON    A 

of  the  liver,  it  was  deprived  of  its  fluidity,  that  a 
greater  quantity  of  its  various  salts  might  be  con- 
centrated in  a  smaller  portion  of  phlegm  ;  for  by 
this  means  its  salts  are  so  nearly  collected,  that 
they  form  a  thick,  viscid,  saline,  bitter  humour, 
whose  office  is  to  stimulate  the  intestines,  keep  up 
their  peristaltic  motions,  and  help  forwards  the 
descent  of  the  excrements,  and  without  which  they 
would  be  apt  to  stagnate  in  the  intestines,  and 
create  obstinate  costiveness  and  severe  cholic 
pains ;  so  that  the  bilious  salts  serve  several  ends 
and  purposes  in  life  ;  for  as  they  exist  in  the  blood, 
so  they  assist  the  circulation  ;  as  they  are  secreted 
in  the  liver,  and  flow  into  the  intestines,  the 
more  fine  parts  help  forwards  the  separation  of 
the  chile,  and  its  secretion  into  the  lacteals, 
while  a  grosser  portion  of  the  bilious  salts  mix 
with  the  excrements,  and  facilitate  their  descent; 
and  without  which  the  animal  itself  neither  could 
well  subsist  under  a  sound  state  of  health,  or 
continue  in  life  for  any  considerable  time. 

After  so  much  said  concerning  our  enquiries 
into  the  nature,  principle,  and  secretion  of  the 
bile,  I  shall  only  observe,  on  the  fluid  secreted 
from  the  pancreas,  that  it  is  a  fine,  thin,  lym- 
phatic liquor,  whose  office,  when  mixed  and 
incorporated  with  the   saliva,  stomachic  juices. 


CRUST   OF  BREAD.  41 

and  bile,  is  to  dilute  and  attenuate  the  chyle, 
and  facilitate  its  motion  into  the  lacteal  vessels  ; 
which  leads  me  to  treat  of  the  efficacy  of  the 
saliva,  when  duly  mixed,  properly  incorporated, 
and  perfectly  united  with  the  foregoing  liquors, 
whereby  they  arrive  at  the  highest  perfection 
their  several  natures  are  capable  of;  and  of 
whose  effects  and  consequences,  in  divers  dis- 
eases, we  shall  treat  in  the  following  section. 


p 


42  A  TREATISE    ON  A 


SECT.  VII. 

OF  THE  OPERATION  OF  THE  FASTING  SALIVA,  WHEN 
INWARDLY  TAKEN,  AND  MIXED  WITH  THE  PAN- 
CREATIC AND  BILIOUS  JUICES,  IN  THE  SCURVY, 
GRAVEL,  RHEUMATISM,  AND  DIVERS  OTHER  DIS- 
EASES, INCIDENT  TO  OBSTRUCT  THE  BLOOD  AND 
VITIATE  THE  SECRETIONS  IN  THE  INTERNAL  HABIT. 

YVe  have  seen  (in  the  fourth  section)  what 
this  fasting  spittle  will  do  alone,  and  when  out- 
wardly applied  in  divers  external  diseases :  I 
come  now  to  speak  of  its  elTects  and  virtues, 
after  it  is  mixed  with  divers  secreted  liquors,  in 
its  passage  from  the  mouth,  till  it  becomes  a 
secreted  liquor  into  the  mouth  again.  If  the 
fasting  spittle,  after  the  bread  has  been  well 
moistened  with  it  in  tbe  mouth,  is  charged  into 
the  stomach,  it  then,  in  its  passage  meets  with 
the  lubricating  lym^h  of  the  gula,  which,  fiom 
its  spirituous,  active  qualities,  very  much  im- 
prove: the  fasting  saliva ;  and  after  its  descent 
into  the  stomach,  there  the  stomachic  juices  are 
continually  secreting  from  their  respective  glands  ; 
continually  mixing  with  the  ingested  spittle, 
conveyed  into  the  stomach  with  the  meat  we  eat. 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  43 

till  digested  into  a  thin,  light,  volatile  spume  or 
froth ;  they,  from  their  lightness  and  tenuity  of 
parts,  flow  over  the  pylorus  into  the  intestines^ 
where  all  these  various  fluids  of  the  saliva,  of 
the  secreted  liquor,  issuing  from  the  glands  of 
the  oesophagus  and  stomach,  are  united  in  the 
duodenum,  and  intimately  combined  with  the 
bilious  and  pancreatic  juices  discharged  from 
their  respective  pipes,  into  one  uniform  mass 
or  soap. 

And  having  brought  the  fasting  saliva  through 
a  course  of  digestions  to  mix  with  the  bile  and 
pancreatic  juice  in  the  intestines ;  it  appears 
to  me,  from  the  very  nature  and  properties  of 
the  bilious  humours  thus  new  modelled,  from 
the  access  of  the  various  secretions,  that  we 
have  generally  confined  the  gall  and  pancre- 
atic juices  to  answer  very  imperfect  purposes 
of  life;  as  if  they  were  secreted  for  little  else, 
but,  by  their  bitter  and  acid  salts,  to  dissolve 
our  aliments  in  the  stomach  and  intestines,  to 
faciliate  the  descent  of  the  fasces,  and  give  the 
depurated  chyle  a  passage  into  the  lacteals.  But, 
upon  a  more  attentive  view  of  things,  we  shall 
perceive  that  the  bilious  humour  serves  very 
great  and  important  ends  of  life  in  the  animal 
economy  ;    for,  were  this  liquid,  volatile,  animal 


44  A  TREATISE  ON  A 

soap,  of  a  very  active,  cleansing,  penetrant  and 
abstersive  nature^  by  the  largeness  and  union 
of  salts  of  various  natures,  as  of  bitter,  sweet, 
salt,  acrid,  alcalious,  and  muriatic,  all  combined 
into  one  substantial  fluid ;  it  will  necessarily 
happen,  that  such  an  uniform  liquor  will  be 
able  to  dissolve  all  manner  of  viscous  humours, 
and  sabulous  concretions,  that  fur  up  the  mouths 
of  the  lacteals,  obstruct  the  passage  of  the  chyle, 
and  dispose  all  corrupt  humours  to  discharge 
by  stool,  urine,  and  insensible  perspiration. 

This  fluid,  the  saliva,  by  the  improvements  it 
receives,  as  above  described,  being  admitted 
with  the  chyle  into  the  lacteals,  attenuates,  dis- 
solves, and  liquifies  any  fur  or  coagulum  that 
may  stick  or  adhere  to  the  coats  of  the  lacteals, 
or  obstruct  in  the  vessels  of  the  receptaculum 
chili,  or  ductus  thoracicus;  for  the  fine,  thin, 
depurated  chyle  contains  globules  of  a  larger  size 
than  any  to  be  found  in  the  blood  itself,  and 
therefore  are  apter  to  stagnate  in  these  fine 
white  tubes,  called  vente  lacteae  primi  et  secundi 
generis,  than  in  the  vessels  of  any  other  parts 
of  the  body. 

Therefore  if  it  enters  the  lacteals,  and  gets 
into  the  blood,  it   purifies  that   fluid,  dissolves 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  4p 

all  preternatural  lentors,  scours  the  glands,  and 
cleanses  their  emunctorieSj  wherehy  the  veins, 
nerves,  and  arteries  are  cleared  of  all  embar- 
rassing obstructions,  and  the  course  of  nature 
carried  on  with  the  greatest  harmony  and  accord. 

In  the  kidnies,  ureters  and  bladder,  it  is 
known  to  increase  the  separation  and  secretion 
of  the  fluids  in  the  urinary  passages ;  so  that  a 
man  may  observe  himself  to  discharge  more 
urine  after  he  has  eat  his  crust  in  a  morning 
fasting,  than  at  any  other  time  of  the  day : 
again,  this  noble  fluid,  by  its  oleous  and  bal- 
samic qualities,  abates  pain,  and  assuages  the 
inflammation  of  the  parts,  as  is  very  usual, 
where  either  much  gravel  or  large  stones  have 
frequently  passed  these  several  organs.  As  this 
fine,  balsamic,  liquid,  compound  soap  is  endued 
with  soft,  oleous  and  balsamic  properties,  whereby 
it  may  sheath  the  asperities  of  the  acrimonious 
salts,  and  attemperate  all  sharp  humours  ;  so  it 
abounds  also  with  sharp,  acid,  inciding  salts, 
both  volatile,  essential  and  fixed ;  whereby  it 
attenuates,  breaks  and  dissolves  all  sabulous 
concretions,  rectifies  the  intemperatures  of  the 
blood,  that  may  intercept  the  motion  of  the 
fluids  in  every  part,  and  carries  its  virtues  to 
the  extremest  organs  of  the  body  ;  nor  does  it 


46  A    TREATISE    ON  A 

only  contribute  to  destroy  the  most  stubborn  dis- 
eases, but  also  mightily  serves  to  preserve  the 
body  in  health  ;  for  where  the  circulation  of  the 
blood,  the  secretion  of  the  juices,  and  discharge 
of  the  excrcmentitious  fgeces  and  fluids  are  con- 
stant, regular,  and  uniform,  there  the  health  is 
in  the  highest  perfection  a  man  can  possibly 
arrive  at  in  this  imperfect  state  of  nature. 


CRUST   OF  BREAD.  47 


SECT.  VIII. 

OF    THE    FORCE    AND    EFFICACY    OF     FA.STING     AND 

ABSTINENCE,  UNDER  THE  OPERATION  OF  THIS  FINE 

PENETRATING,  ABSTERSIVE,  ANIMAL  SOAP. 

X  Do  not  presume  here  to  treat  these  subjects 
of  fasting  and  abstinence  as  a  divine,  who  in- 
tends, bj  is  advice  and  counsel,  to  mortify  the 
body  or  soul,  and  betler  the  conscience ;  but  as 
a  physician,  who  is  desirous  to  preserve  the 
strength,  health,  and  motions  of  the  body  of 
his  patient,  steady,  uniform,  and  regular. 

Every  one  must  be  sensible,  what  great 
things  have  been  promised  from  quicksilver,  tar- 
water,  Mrs.  Stevens's  medicines,  and  divers 
other  quack  pills,  powders  and  elixirs,  in  the 
gravel,  gout,  dropsy,  and  various  other  diseases ; 
but  I  declare,  that  if  the  advice  I  offer  for  the 
benefit  of  mankind  be  but  carefully  observed, 
and  punctually  put  in  practice,  many  will  not 
only  receive  great  relief,  but  an  entire  exemption 
from  the  most  obstinate  and  stubborn  diseases. 

For  we  ought  ever  to  consider  that  nature  is 
always  on   the    side  of  health,    and   continually 


48  A   TREATISE  ON  A 

striving   to    restore   the    constitution,    whenever 
borne  down  by  the  force  of  a  disease;  so  that 
seldom  can  any  obstructions  happen  to  the  body, 
but  that  repletion,  or  gorging  more  than  nature 
can  digest,  is  the  cause  ;  and  which,  when  often 
repeated,   brings  on  indigestions  in  the  stomach, 
windiness,   or     flatulencies    in    the    bowels   and 
intestines ;  a    corruption    of    humours    in    the 
blood,     and    various     obstructions    in   different 
organs  of   the     habit.     These     are  the   parents 
of   most  diseases  that  are  incident  to  affect  us 
in  life ;  for    what   is   the    scurvy,   but   a  thick 
viscid,   ropy  blood,    unable    to   pass   the   finest 
strainers  of  the  several  organs  ?  and  how  comes 
it  by  these  properties,  but  by   the   indigestion 
of  our  aliments  ?     The   same  we   may  observe 
of  cholic  pains,  the  asthma,   and  dropsy ;  their 
original    cause    undoubtedly    arises   from   indi- 
gestions ;  nor  is  the  generation    of  gravel   and 
stone  less  owing  to  the  same    causes ;  for  when 
our   foods   escape    the    force     of    the   stomach 
not   thoroughly    digested,   they  never   after  can 
receive  the   assimilating  power,  from   any   after 
impressions  the  subsequent  organs  can  lay  upon 
them,   but  become  the  cause  of  various  obstruc- 
tions in   the  small    organs   of  the   body ;  hence 
arise   wind  in  the   stomach,  pains   in  the  intes- 
tines, rheumatisms  in  the    limbs,  and  scirrhous 


CRUST   OF  BREAD.  49 

tumours   in   the  liver,  spleen,  and  divers   other 
parts. 

Now,  under  these  circumstances,  to  bring: 
nature  home  to  herself,  the  first  thing  must  be 
to  prescribe  abstinence  from  all  flesh  meats, 
for  the  compass  of  a  w^eek,  if  the  disease  be 
recent ;  three  weeks  or  a  month,  if  the  same 
has  been  of  any  long  continuance ;  this  will 
give  nature  time  to  recover  herself.  What  I 
mean  by  nature  recovering,  herself  is,  that 
there  are  certain  restitutive  powers  in  every 
organ  and  fibre  of  the  body,  whereby  nature, 
when  any  organ  is  obstructed  or  oppressed, 
strives  to  recover  its  former  tone  ;  and  this  self- 
restoring  power  is  partly  the  effects  of  the  fluids, 
and  partly  lodged  in  the  organs  themselves,  and 
the  mechanism  that  constitutes  their  powers  of 
force  and  motion. 

Now,  in  any  great  pressure  *  from  a  load  of 
foods  charged  into  the  stomach,  there  is  nothing 
that  gives  so  sure  a  relief,  as  fasting  and  absti- 
nence ;  for  these  vacations  from  aliments  enable 
the  fibres  of  the  stomach,  viscera,  and  other  or- 
gans, to  resolve  the  obstructions,  to  break  the 
cohesions  of  the  blood,  and  enable  nature  to 
root  out  the  most  stubborn  diseases,  by  flinging 

G 


50  A    TREATISE  ON   A 

their  causes  off'  by  either  stool,  urine,  or  insen- 
sible perspiration,  or  sometimes  a  profuse  sweat. 
Nor  can  there  be  a  more  noble,  safe,  and  effi- 
cacious remedy  to  rid  us  of  either  stone,  gravel, 
or  gout,  than  what  I  now  offer  for  the  relief 
of  mankind  ;  that  is,  abstinence,  fasting,  and  a 
crust  of  bread  eat  early  in  a  morning  fasting  ; 
or  rather  the  fasting  saliva  charged  into  the  sto- 
mach, by  the  assistance  of  a  piece  of  bread : 
and,  in  these  cases  it  is  necessary  that  we  take 
nothing  of  aliments  for  two  or  three  hours  after. 

Give  me  leave  here  to  recapitulate,  as  briefly 
as  I  can,  the  virtues  of  one  of  the  greatest  dis- 
solvent medicines  in  nature,  and  at  the  same 
time  one  of  the  safest  that  ever  was  communica- 
ted to  mankind  ;  a  remedy  that,  if  steadily  pur- 
sued, will  cure  both  the  gout,  the  gravel,  the 
stone   the   asthma,     and    dropsy.      Would   you 

know  this  invaluable  secret  ? It  is  abstinence. 

I  say  abstinence  ;  the  most  effectual  cure  in 

all  diseases  ;  but  by  the  word  abstinence,  I  do 
not  mean  a  mere  negative  remedy,  as  if  fasting 
was  to  do  all  the  work,  by  suffering  nature  at 
her  leisure,  to  attenuate  the  fluids,  resolve  the 
obstructions,  and  digest  oflT  the  obstructing  mat- 
ter :  nothing  like  it ;  for  we  have  given  you  the 
form  of  this  medicine  above,  told  you  the  ingre- 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  51 

dicnts,  and  whereof  this  excellent  remedy,  so 
assisting  to  nature,  is  composed  ;  and  must  leave 
yourself  to  judge  of  its  efficacy  and  operation. 

However,  to  make  some  pertinent  reflections 
upon  this  subject,  I  beg  leave  to  observe,  that, 
after  the  whole  quantity  of  chyle  is  digested 
in  the  stomach,  and  conveyed  into  the  in- 
testines ;  thereupon  the  fasting  saliva,  the 
lubricating  lymph  of  the  gula,  the  fluids 
secreted  from  the  fine  velvet  coat  of  the  sto- 
mach, are  continually  separating  from  their  re- 
spective glands  ;  continually  digesting  in  the 
stomach,  and  continually  flowing  over  the  pylo- 
rus into  the  duodenum  ;  there  they  are  mixed, 
united,  and  intimately  combined  with  pancreatic 
and  bilious  juices  ;  and  which,  by  their  conflicts, 
tumults,  and  conquassations,  produce  a  most 
fine,  thin,  attenuated  fluid  :  this  fluid,  being 
admitted  into  the  lacteals,  resolves  the  obstruc- 
tions of  the  mesenteric  glands,  every  where 
seated  near  the  lacteals ;  attenuates,  dissolves 
and  liquifies  any  fur  or  coagulum,  that  may  ad- 
here or  stick  to  the  sides  of  the  lacteals ;  and 
prevent  its  entrance  into  the  receptaculum  chili, 
or  ductus  thoracicus.  In  a  word,  this  fine,  vola- 
tile, saline  fluid,  from  the  various  secretions  mix- 
ing with  it,  becomes  an  universal  dissolvent ;  and 


52  A   TREATISE    ON  A 

is  intended  and  separated  by  nature,  to  break 
the  cohesions  of  the  obstruent  matter,  that  may 
cleave  to  the  coats  of  the  vessels  in  every  part  of 
the  body :  and  from  this  natural  observation,  we 
may  learn  the  great  benefit  of  frequent  fasting, 
not  only  to  preserve  the  body  under  a  sound 
state  of  health,  but  also  how  mightily  service- 
able it  is  in  relieving  divers  diseases ;  and  how 
efficacious  it  is  in  the  gravel,  stone,  rheumatism, 
and  divers  other  diseases,  that  have  obstructions 
for  their  parent. 

You  sec  now,  that,  after  all,  we  discover  this 
to  be  no  imaginary  medicine,  formed  upon  the 
negative  principles  of  fasting  and  abstinence,  as 
if  they  were  to  do  all  the  work  themselves,  but 
on  the  solid  grounds  of  the  fasting  saliva,  com- 
bined and  united  with  the  liquors  secreted  from 
almost  evey  organ  of  the  body,  whereby  it  is 
irapowered  to  dissolve  all  unfriendly  cohesions  in 
the  blood  and  animal  juices  ;  force  open,  break 
down,  and  unbind  those  stubborn  obstructions, 
that  impede  the  motion  of  the  fluids  in  their  first 
passages ;  so  that  there  is  scarce  a  nerve,  vein, 
artery,  or  gland,  in  the  whole  animal  economy, 
but  what  must  necessarily  receive  some  benefit 
from  the  daily  operation  of  this  fine,  liquid, 
animal  soap. 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  53 


SECT.  IX. 

OF  THE  AIR,  DIET,  EXERCISE,  AND  OTHER  REQUISl- 
TORIAL  RULES,  NECESSARY  TO  BE  OBSERVED,  IN  OR- 
DER TO  FACILITATE  THE  OPERATION  OF  THIS  LIQUID 
SOAP,  I  ESTEEM  A  MOST  INVALUABLE  REMEDr, 

J.  Hus  we  have  discovered  the  operation  of  this 
noble  and  most  sovereign  remedy  in  the  scurvy, 
gravel,  rheumatism,  and  divers  other  diseases; 
which  leads  me  to  speak  a  few  things  of  air, 
diet,  and  exercise,  necessary  so  be  observed,  in 
order  to  facilitate  the  relief  it  gives  in  the  most 
stubborn  diseases. 

But,  before  we  can  expect  to  accomplish  all 
these  fine  effects,  enumerated  in  the  foregoing 
pages,  1  hold  it  highly  necessary  that  a  proper 
air,  a  regular  diet,  and  a  well-adjusted  exercise, 
should  be  enjoined  the  patient:  as  to  the  air, 
which  is  the  first  thing  we  ought  to  consult  about, 
I  judge  it  highly  necessary,  that  the  patient 
should  sojourn  in  a  soft,  free,  open  air ;  on  a 
ground  rather  rising  ;  in  a  place  free  from  woods. 


54  A  TREATISE  ON  A 

fensj  or  high  mountains,  that  may  intercept  the 
pure  balsamic  properties  of  this  healthful,  enli- 
vening fluid,  the  air.  By  all  means,  if  he  is 
subject  to  either  the  gravel,  asthma,  or  rheuma- 
tism, let  him  avoid  living  in  great  cities,  which 
are  pernicious  to  those  incident  to  the  foregoing 
diseases ;  and  therefore  my  advice  is,  that  he 
take  the  medicine  in  the  country,  if  possible,  as 
the  goodness  of  the  air  will  assist  its  operation: 
but  if  his  business  calls  him  to  the  city,  and  he 
cannot  possibly  stay  in  the  country,  he  must  not, 
by  any  means,  intermit  the  medicine,  but  pur- 
sue its  use  a  month  or  six  weeks,  in  the  best 
manner  he  can,  without  intermission ;  from 
which  in  most  diseases,  that  are  lodged  within 
the  compass  of  the  circulation,  he  will  receive 
considerable  benefit. 

Having  done  with  the  air,  the  next  thing  to  be 
observed  is  the  patient's  diet :  and  I  chuse  to 
begin  with  his  diet  in  the  morning,  because  there 
are  several  nice  circumstances  necessary  to  be 
adjusted,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  operation  of 
this  sovereign  remedy,  we  call  the  fasting  spittle. 
And  therefore  1  advise  the  patient  to  eat  his 
breakfast  about  ten  of  the  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing :  and,  under  a  tit  of  the  gravel,  I  would  ad- 
vise him  to  drink  three  or  four  dishes  of  a  tea. 


■^ 


CRUST    OF    BREAD  55 

made  either  of  mallow-flowers,  or  if  the  season 
does  not  permit  them  to  be  had,  let  him  use  the 
mallow-leaves,  sweetened  with  honey,  with  a 
slice  or  two  of  bread  and  butter,  as  the  best 
breakfast  he  can  have. 

An  hour  or  two  after  breakfast,  let  him  exer- 
cise;  and,  of  all  exercise,  I  prefer  that  on 
horseback  ;  but,  if  the  weather  happen  to  be 
hazy,  and  not  promising,  he  may  then,  for  two 
or  three  hours,  take  the  air  in  a  chariot,  close 
chaise,  or  coach.  When  I  speak  of  exercise,  I 
always  suppose  the  patient  is  entirely  free  from 
any  pains  of  the  gravel  or  stone. 

After  his  return,  if  he  finds  himself  refreshed, 
he  may  take  a  walk  in  the  garden,  or  about  the 
house,  or  busy  himself  for  the  remainder  of  the 
time  between  that  and  dinner,  in  his  study  :  but, 
above  all  things,  let  him  take  care  he  does  not 
habituate  himself  to  drink  wine,  or  anything 
that  is  strong,  in  the  morning  before  dinner  ; 
for  many,  by  that  means,  have  destroyed  their 
appetite,  and  for  ever  after  spoiled  a  good  diges- 
tion ;  so  that  whatever  they  have  eat  at  noon 
has  turned  to  wind  and  crudities,  and  subjected 
them  to  severe  cholic  pains. 


56  A  TREATISE  ON  A 

When  he  sits  down  to  his  great  meal,  or 
dinner,  I  permit  him  to  eat  of  every  thing,  so  it 
be  not  too  salt :  for  salts,  of  all  kinds,  are  un- 
doubtedly ingredients  of  both  the  gravel,  stone, 
and  rheumatism;  and  these  ingredients  furnish 
out  the  cause  of  frequent  fits  in  these  diseases  ; 
and  therefore  the  young,  of  all  animals,  are  to 
be  chosen,  as  they  consist  of  the  lightest  salts, 
and  such  as  are  easily  dissipable  by  urine, 
sweat,  and  perspiration ;  and  seldom  concrete, 
as  they  are  not  endued  with  that  degree  of  attrac- 
tion as  are  the  salts  of  older  animals. 

Between  dinner  and  supper,  I  would  not  ad- 
vise him  to  touch  any  thing,  unless  a  dish  or  two 
of  tea  or  coffee,  with  a  slice  of  bread  and  butter  ; 
for  the  great  point  is  so  to  order  the  air,  diet,  and 
exercise,  as  to  be  able  to  bring  all  the  motions  of 
the  animal  organs  to  a  due  tempelPattitre,--arnd 
then  we  shall  greatly  promote  the  operation  of 
this  salutary  remedy,  and  render  its  virtues  highly 
efficacious. 

His  supper  I  would  advise  him  to  take  abaut 
six  or  seven  in  the  evening,  and  by  no  means 
later  ;  and  as  milk  is  phlegmatic,  so,  if  he  pleases, 
he  may  take  half  a  pint,  or  more  of  white-wine 
whey,  with  a  sea  biscuit;  or   if  it   pleases   him 


CRUST  OF  BREAD.  57 

better,  he  may  take  a  slice  of  new  cheese,  and 
drink  a  few  glasses  of  old  port,  or  a  pint  of  fine 
soft  ale,  with  about  six  ounces  of  the  crust  of  a 
French  roll  or  manchet. 

After  these  things  are  done,  I  advise  him  not 
to  eat  any  thing  till  about  six,  seven,  or  eight  of 
the  clock  the  next  morning,  which  is  the  time  of 
his  taking  the  grand  medicine:  this  consists  of 
half  an  ounce  or  six  drachms  of  the  fasting-saliva, 
pressed  or  squeezed  out  from  the  salival  glands 
into  the  mouth,  hy  the  pressure  of  the  jaws  and 
teeth,  in  eating  an  ounce  or  ten  drachms  of  the 
crust  or  heel  of  a  loaf  made  of  the  purest  wheat ; 
for  the  crust  occasions  so  much  the  greater  pres- 
sure from  the  teeth,  whose  greater  force  occa- 
sions a  greater  discharge  of  this  salival  fluid,  and 
which  will  answer  all  the  purposes  we  declared 
in  the  preceding  sections. 

And,  though  of  late  years,  we  have  heard  of 
mighty  feats  done  by  crude  mercury,  tar  water, 
and  other  quack  medicines,  sold  up  and  down 
the  town,  supported  by  royal  patents  and  digni- 
fied titles  :  yet  I  question  whether,  in  the  gravel, 
stone,  and  rheumatism,  there  ever  yet  was  dis- 
covered, or  at  this  time  is  discovered,  or  any 
remedy,  in  future  times,  shall  be  discovered,  that 

G 


58  A  TREATISE  ON   A  CRUST  OF  BREAD. 

in  its  virtues  and  efficacy,  comes  up  to  this 
invaluable  medicine,  I  now  ofter  for  the  benefit 
of  mankind:  and  the  patient  may  assure  himself 
that,  if  these  rules  and  cautions,  and  some  others, 
that  do  not  properly  come  within  the  narrow 
compass  I  have  here  set  myself,  are  but  rightly 
pursued,  they  will  not  only  mightily  contribute 
to  preserve  him  in  health,  but  also  be  extremely 
efficacious  to  restore  this  invaluable  blessing, 
whenever  overpowered  by  the  force  of  a  disease: 
and  in  all  these  cases,  the  patient  will  find  little 
occasion  for  taking  of  medicines,  provided  he  is 
observing  of  these  rules,  and  careful,  every  day, 
to  adjust  his  air,  diet,  and  exercise. 

Now,  though  I  will  not  pretend,  like  our  mo- 
dern quacks,  to  cry  up  this  medicine,  as  an  uni- 
versal catholicon,  and  promise  the  world,  that  it 
will  never  fail  to  cure  all  diseases  it  is  applied 
to  ;  yet  I  will  boldly  venture  to  declare  a  solemn 
truth,  that  no  quack  can  with  justice  affirm  in 
favour  of  his  medicine — that  it  never  was  known 
to  do  any  harm  to  man,  woman,  or  child,  not- 
withstanding the  many  thousands  of  people  that 
have  experimentally  made  use  of  it. 

THE  END. 


WORKS  BY  MR.  WILSON, 

Published  by  Burgesh  and  Hill,  Great  Windmill  Street. 


LECTURES 

ON 

THE     BLOOD, 

AND    ON 

The  Anatomy,  Physiology,  and  Surgical  Pathology  of  the 

vascular  System  of  the  human  Body. 

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LECTURES 

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AND     ON    THE 

DISEASES  OF  THE  BONES  AND  JOINTS 

OP    THE 


l^uman  'BoD^: 


PRECEUED     BV 

Some  Observations  on  the  Influence  of  the  Brain  and  Nerves. 
Delivered  before  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  in  the  Summer  of  th^ 

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AND    ON 

THE    NATURE    AND     TREATMENT    OF    THEIR     DISEASES. 
Delivered  before  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons,  in  the  Summer 

of  1821. 


OBSERVATIONS 

INCURVATIONS  OF  THE '  SPINE  ARISING  FROM 

SOFTNESS  OF  THE  BONES, 

AND  ON  THEIR  TREATMENT, 

PARTICULARLY  WITH  REGARD  TO  THE  FEMALE  SEX  : 

ALSO    SOME    REMARKS    ON 

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PRACTICAL  OBSERVATIONS 

ON    THE 

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AND    OF 

THE   VARIOUS    MODES    OF    BATHING: 

Particularly  in  Scrofula — Consumptioa — Cutaneous  Affections — 

Gout — Rheumatism — Palsy — Disorders  of  the  Kidnies — 

Indigestion — Female  Diseases — General  Debility — 

Nervous  and  Liver  Complaints,  &c.  &c. 

WITH 

REMARKS  ON  EXERCISE  AND  DIET. 

INTENDED  FOR  THE  USE  OF  INVALIDS. 
By  PATRICK  MACKENZIE,  M.D. 

LICENTIATE    OF    THE    ROYAI.    COLLEGE    OF    PHYSICIANS,    LONDOlf; 
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By  V.  ARMSTRONG. 

Octavo,  Is.  6d. 


A  REPORT 

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AT   THE 

Ti'ESTMINSTER   GENERAL    DISPENSARY, 

During  1818: 
Including   new   Classifications    of  Labours,   Abortions,    Female 
Complaints,  and  the  Diseases  of  Children ;    with  Computations 
on  the  Mortality  among  Lying-in  Women  and  Children,  and  » 
the  Probabilities  of  Abortion  taking  place  at  the  different  peri- 
ods of  Pregnancy,  &c.  &c. 

■vVITH  SELF.CT  CASES  AND  FORMULAE. 

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